Police Academy Trainers Charged in Recruit's Death

0:00A Massachusetts State Police Recruit, named Enrique Delgado García, a 25-year-old, died last September 13, 2024, after a concussion from an unapproved sparring session and more head injuries the next day during a training boxing match. This week, a supervisor and two instructors from the Tactical Unit faced a raiment on charges like involuntary manslaughter and causing serious bodily injury during training. They all pleaded not guilty in Worcester Superior Court. Here this year, investigators detailed how unsafe sparring gave Delgado García his first brain injury, then staff let a brutal boxing drill continue, leading to massive bleeding and his collapse. Lieutenant Jennifer Pinton, the supervisor at the time, plus troopers Edwin Rodriguez and Dave and Montana's got hit with those charges and the lieutenant also faces perjury counts from her grand jury testimony. Another trooper, Casey Lamonte, is set for a raiment on April 14. Family members and advocates pushed hard for accountability with their lawyers saying

1:03there's finally light at the end of the tunnel. The State Police Union backs the accused, stressing presumption of innocence and plans to tighten training rules. Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell stressed the need for an independent probe amid national scrutiny. These charges stand out as super rare, possibly the first in years for a recruit death in police academy training. An associated press probe found over 30 recruits nationwide have died since 2015 from intense drills, heat, or medical issues, but criminal cases almost never happen, even as departments recruit differently. Meanwhile, families keep fighting through lawsuits, like one last month from relatives of a San Francisco recruit who died in combat training. This Massachusetts case could signal real change in how academies handle safety, pushing for drills that build skills without breaking bodies. I'm Corey with the story. That's your Canada News Today update, AI powered and always on.